Locking flat flexible cable to circuit board connector

Abstract

The subject connector lockingly interconnects flat flexible cable with fixed terminals of a printed circuit board or the like. The connector has a receptacle member which is mounted on and secured to the printed circuit by pin portions of receptacle terminals extending from the receptacle member. The mating plug is designed to receive a flat flexible cable therein with the cable being terminated by crimped on pin terminals. The plug both provides a shroud receiving the receptacle therein and encloses and protects the pin terminals. The plug provides locking intermating with the receptacle member and locking retention of the cable so that it cannot be unintentionally removed from the plug.

I claim: 
     
       1. An electrical connector for interconnecting flat flexible cable with a printed circuit board comprising: a receptacle member having an elongated housing with a mounting surface, a mating face, a plurality of terminal recesses extending therein from said mounting surface to said mating face, and at least one locking means extending from an outer surface of said receptacle member;   a plurality of receptacle terminals each mounted in a respective one of said recesses with each said receptacle terminal having a body portion including means for holding said receptacle terminal in said recess, a receptacle portion directed towards said mating face and a mounting tail portion extending from mounting surface of said elongated, housing;   a plug member having an elongated body of insulative material defining a mating face, a rear surface, a chamber intermediate said plug member mating face and said rear surface, a cable receiving slot in said rear surface opening into said chamber, a plurality of apertures in said chamber opening on said plug member mating face, an integral shroud surrounding and extending forwardly of said plug member mating face, pairs of opposed inwardly directed teeth profiling said cable receiving slot in a balanced arrangement, and means for engaging said locking means of said receptacle member; and   a multi-conductor flat flexible cable having a plurality of pin terminals each crimped to a respective conductor thereof, said cable being mounted through said slot with said pin terminals projecting from said apertures and said teeth engaging rear portions of said terminals to prevent the rearward withdrawal of said cable from said plug member,   whereby upon mating of said connector said plug member and receptacle member are locked together by said locking means and said means for engaging said locking means and strain relief is provided for said cable by engagement of said pairs of teeth behind respective pin terminals.   
     
     
       2. An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises an outwardly directed lug and said means for engaging said locking means comprises a recess.